Sunday, September 15, 2013

Chautauqua publishes writing that expresses the values of the Chautauqua Institution, broadly construed: a sense of inquiry into questions of personal, social, political, spiritual, and aesthetic importance—and when, where, and how those values and questions intersect.

Since the Institution’s founding in 1874, the Chautauqua philosophy has been that everyday life should integrate leisure, education, fine arts, and spirituality. The Chautauqua way of life encompasses all of the ways we enrich our lives: learning on vacation, leisure in work, and passion for art and life in all activities. In the pages of Chautauqua, readers will find a season between covers. Also, in keeping with the values of Chautauqua, each issue has four sections: Life of the Spirit, Life in Art, Life Lessons, and Life at Leisure.

We are now reading for Issue 11: “Wonders of the World.” Beyond your Machu Picchu or Great Pyramid vacation stories, we are also looking for the simpler wonders in life—the mysteries of love and spirituality, the small-town superheroes, the magical places less known to the outside world, inventions and discoveries that change lives, the healing power of time spent in nature, or all-night conversations with loved ones. We seek a sense of wonder that is uniquely human, containing both our susceptibility to awe and the troubling challenges that come with confronting such overwhelming phenomena—even ones of great beauty.

Our current reading period closes November 15 (at midnight, PST).

If you are considering submitting to Chautauqua, please consider ordering the current issue or preordering the next issue here. You will get a thorough feel for the kind of writing we love—and, clearly, what we publish.

All submissions will be considered for the Editors Prizes: $500, $250, and $100 for each issue. These awards will recognize the writing we as a staff feel best captures both the issue’s theme and the spirit of the Chautauqua Institution. The first place winner will automatically be nominated for the Pushcart Prize.

Thank you for your interest, and please do share your work with us! We look forward to reading your work, and we thank you for allowing us that honor.